Everything so quiet in the grey morning light
I remind myself that it is 7am on a Saturday morning
I tie the dog to the post in front of the bakery
And buy my croissants
As I’ve always done
As I’ll always do
Two hours have passed
The streets are empty
There is a blue sky somewhere
Downstairs the butcher smokes a cigarette in the courtyard
Like he’s always done
Like he’ll always do
I tell her that everything will be ok
I sit down at this machine and look out the window
At midday I’ll have a glass of red wine before lunch
Like I’ve always done
Like I’ll always do

Before you hang up
Don’t say
“It was nice speaking to you”
Tell them that;
“It was great to hear your voice”

Tell them that;
There are lines etched on the inside of
your heart, that mark the days since you last saw them

Not; “It’s been too long”

Tell them that you refuse to wait
Not that you “Cannot wait”
To see them again

Tell them that you miss their smile, their face, their smell, their hair in the bathroom drain, their dishes in the sink and the way that they begin to irritate you after you have spent too much time together

Don’t just say;
“I miss you”

Instead of;
“Take care of yourself”

Tell them that your world would crumble like a sandcastle in a hurricane if anything was to happen to them